The Science Show has published a transcript of their recently broadcast program on “Tasmanian Tigers.”

The program description details what is covered:

“Catherine Medlock describes the Tasmanian Museum’s collection of young Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tigers. The museum has five of the nine specimens in existence. They were extinct on the mainland 5,000 years ago and were only found in Tasmania until more recent times despite reports that they are sighted from time to time. Nevertheless, there is no evidence they
persist. The last Thylacine died in the Tasmanian zoo in 1936.”

As their interview concludes, Catherine Medlock, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Macquarie, St Hobart, Tasmania, and her interviewer had this exchange:

Robyn Williams: When was the last time you had some sort of report that they are there still in the wild? It must be ages.

Catherine Medlock: Oh, the museum isn’t actually the place to collect those reports however we do hear of them every now and again and there’s certainly people out there searching for them and these people will never give up.

Robyn Williams: A triumph of hope over experience.

Catherine Medlock: A triumph of hope over experience yes, but the fact is there really has not been any solid evidence since the last one died in the Zoo in 1936. I would certainly like to think they are still there and given the recent introduction of the fox to Tasmania and knowing how difficult it is knowing that foxes are there to actually capture an animal, carnivores are very good at hiding so I’m doubtful, but you never know.

Robyn Williams: Catherine Medlock and if you do have a living Tasmanian Tiger take it straight to her at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, smack in the centre of Hobart, I’m sure she’ll be terribly pleased.